Five Lifelong Friends Take the Same Photo Every Five Years

In 1982, John Wardlaw was joined by four of his high school buddies at his family’s cabin in Copco Lake, California. During their retreat the five friends, who were all about 19, shot a group photo using a self-timing camera.

They didn’t think much of it at the time, but when they all found themselves at the cabin again five years later they decided to recreate the photo. Thus began a tradition that has been repeated every five years since.

The pictures not only provide insight into the fashion and hairstyles of the various time periods, but it is interesting to track the friends’ physical appearances over the years. Hairlines recede. Wrinkles form. Weight is gained and lost. (And, if you look closely, so is a wedding ring.)